Daily Archives: 20 Jun 2018

Today at 5:15-6:30pm, June 21, 2018 New Zealand time (6:15am UK time; 10:15pm, June 20, Pacific time, USA), Dr. Stanley Porter will deliver a lecture at the University of Otago on “Metaphor in the New Testament: Expressing the Inexpressible through Language.”

Much New Testament studies has been shackled by a limiting and constraining literalism—or at least what purports to be literalism. This has resulted in an emphasis upon the “thingness” of the ancient world and its texts, rather than on the “howness,” that is, how language is used to reflect upon and even create the world in which the ancients existed. The result of such a narrow view of human experience and use of language is the failure to appreciate the nature and complexity of language itself, in particular metaphor. Fundamental to interpretation is recognition of the role that language plays in human experience, and from that grow all of…

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A Fox News reporter was able to catch up to President Trump on the White House lawn earlier this week, and immediately began to grill the president in an impromptu, hardball interview, asking the controversial commander in chief tough, pointed questions like “Why are you so great?” and “Is it difficult for you, being so amazing?”

Pundits from virtually every U.S. news network agreed the interview was one of the most brutal they’ve ever seen, with the Fox News reporter relentlessly roasting Trump on how great he is on everything from the economy to immigration.

“How do you sleep at night, knowing you’re the best president in our nation’s history?” the hard-edged reporter growled, getting into Trump’s face in the tense, confrontational encounter. “Honestly, you make me sick with your unparalleled leadership and fantastic policies. I just want to puke when I think about how wonderful you are.”

An uncomfortable Trump attempted to respond to the questions by saying he’s just doing the best job that he can, but the interviewer refused to take any of his answers at face value, instead cutting the president off to interrogate him ruthlessly on his spotless record and impeccable character. “How dare you suggest you’re anything less than perfect, Mr. President. HOW DARE YOU!”

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A spokesperson for MTV has finally apologized after the cable channel aired Chris Pratt’s brief acceptance speech at the MTV Movie & TV Awards earlier this week, stating that the content of his address was not totally vapid, mindless trash, and as such wasn’t in line with the network’s usual programming standards and core values.

The spokesperson told MTV viewers that Pratt’s message of hope, faith, and responsibility is “totally at odds” with the values of the channel that airs an almost constant barrage of “Jersey Shore” and “Teen Mom” spin-offs. According to the spokesperson, Pratt’s speech wasn’t vetted in advance for positive, Judeo-Christian values. Censors scrambled to bleep out words like “God,” “love,” and “pray,” but “the damage was done.” The network claims it is putting new standards into place for future awards shows, and will train its censors to prevent the channel’s international audience from hearing anything remotely helpful and encouraging.

“We regret if any of our viewers were exposed to a positive, faith-affirming message, and would like to offer a weekend marathon of ‘Teen Mom 2’ as a way to make amends,” the spokesperson said in the heartfelt apology video. “While we made a mistake here, we’d like to remind our viewers that we are the number-one source of vapid, cynical entertainment for teens and young adults, and we’re committed to making up for airing Pratt’s speech by absolutely burying you with new episodes of ‘Ex on the Beach’ and ‘MTV Floribama Shore.’”

The network further apologized if any of its viewers have ever been exposed to music videos on its channel, and stated it would be redoubling its efforts to ensure actual music is never played on any of its programs.